The fact large sections of the Feethams crowd left early said a lot about Darlington's defeat to Cheltenham as the Quakers' faint play-off hopes all but disappeared.

Darlington couldn't argue with the result: their third home League defeat of the season as the Quakers constantly gave the ball away and wasted the few scoring chances they had, including a penalty when 2-0 down.

If the result didn't quash any dreams of finishing in the top seven, the first-half performance certainly did as Darlington looked a poor side as they rarely mounted any attacks; and that against a team who are only on the fringes of the play-off zone themselves.

Cheltenham were in command from the moment they opened the scoring after five minutes as Darlington struggled to create much in front of goal.

One of Darlington's problems this season has been conceding late goals, but after just five minutes the visitors took the lead with a Mark Yates penalty - and Quakers had only themselves to blame for conceding the needless spot-kick.

Phil Brumwell, recalled to the team at right-back in place of the dropped Mark Kilty, opted to allow a long clearance to bounce past him towards Keith Finch, but with Tony Naylor chasing, the keeper brought the Cheltenham forward to the ground and up-stepped Yates to convert.

Within the next ten minutes both side had chances to score with the visitors almost capitlilising on a poor back-pass inside the Darlington penalty area, and then Barry Conlon registered what will go down as one of the worst misses in his career when he scooped an eight-yard shot over an open goal when it looked harder not to score.

Danny Mellanby saw a header rebound off the post and the same player pulled the ball back to the Dublin-born striker who looked certain to score - until he blazed way over.

On the half-hour mark Craig Liddle blocked a goal bound effort on the line to prevent the Robins doubling their advantage, but by that stage Quakers should've been level as Conlon spurrned another glorious opportunity.

Mellanby played an excellent pass into the feet of the forward-running Conlon, but the keeper had no trouble in dealing with the shot from ten yards out which was hit with less venom than some back passes.

Shortly after making one goal-line block, Liddle proved his worth to the Quakers, and demonstrated what Darlington will be missing when he's suspended for Saturday's trip to promotion-chasing Mansfield, when he again stopped a goal-bound effort.

With Cheltenham shading possesion and looking more likely to score, the Robins' creativity set-up Naylor in front of goal, but Liddle threw himself at the shot to keep Darlington in the game.

But with Quakers rarely threatening, Cheltenham took a 2-0 lead shortly before the break when Alsop headed into the net following a right-wing cross. Although the two-goal difference was a little harsh on Darlington, the visitors certainly deserved to be ahead.

Darlington were gifted an excellent chance to reduce the defecit five minutes into the second half through the tricky Adam Rundle, one of few Quakers to emerge with any credit, was fouled in the penalty area by Chris Banks, but Mark Ford failed to repeat Yates' first half spot-kick as the Quakers midfielder prodded his effort far too close to keeper Steve Book.

With a two-goal lead to defend, Cheltenham were happy to sit-back in the second period which allowed Quakers room to come forward, but they never looked like penetrating the Robins rearguard and only Rundle emerged from the home dressing room with much credit as the pacey left-winger frequently tricked his way down the wing and delivered sevreral quality crosses.

But Darlington needed more that just one player to be on form if they were to overcome an organised outfit like Cheltenham.

MATCHFACTS

Goals: Yates (5 mins, 0-1), Alsop (41, 0-2)

Bookings: Finch (foul)

Referee: Mike Jones (Chester)

Attendance: 3,338

DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Finch 7; Brumwell 6 (Harper 62, 6), Liddle 7, Heckingbottom 7, Clark 6; Wainwright 7, Atkinson 6, Ford 5 (Maddison 62, 7), RUNDLE 8; Mellanby 6 (Sheeran 66, 6), Conlon 5. Subs not used: Convery, McGurk.

CHELTENHAM (4-4-2): Book 7; Griffin 6, Brough 7, Banks 7, Victory 7; Williams 6 (Jones 67), Howells 7, Yates 7, Howells 7; Alsop 7, Naylor 7 (Grayson 82). Subs not used: Higgs, Devaney, Howarth, Jones.

MAN OF THE MATCH

ADAM RUNDLE - Dribbled his way through the Cheltenham defence all night

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